When is my MOT due?

You don’t need us to tell you again how much of an impact Covid-19 has had on modern life as we know it – the constant updates we get from news outlets and social media can be pretty overwhelming.

In amongst the disruption caused by the virus, vehicle owners are experiencing comparatively mundane, but still stressful, problems. One of the big concerns has been around the legal requirement to carry out an annual MOT test on vehicles.

Just over a month ago, the government declared an automatic 6 month extension for any MOT test certificate due to expire on or after 30th March 2020. This is applicable to cars, vans and motorcycles only (and similar light vehicles) as well as any of these vehicles due for their first MOT, and the new law will be in place for 12 months.

For example, if your car’s MOT test certificate would have normally expired on 1st April 2020, you have until 1st October to have your vehicle tested.

The measures are designed to reduce the number of people visiting garages and dealerships for regular and non-urgent vehicle maintenance.

The new law will remain in place for 12 months and the government website states that your vehicle MOT test certificate will be updated around 7 days before it is due to expire.

What do you need to do?

The government advice is to check that your MOT expiry date has been extended three days before your MOT was originally due to expire (you can do this here). If the expiry date has not been extended you need to email covid19mot@dvsa.gov.uk and include the following details:

• the date your MOT expired
• your vehicle registration number (number plate)

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency will then update your vehicle’s record and email you to tell you this has been done.

At any time you can check when your MOT is due on the government website.